Monday, 27 September 2010

So the season is changing and as I took Milly for her walk this morning I was aware of a crispness in the air, the berries in the hedgerows and the chill behind the Autumn sun. This time of year has become a poignant time for me since my mum lost her 5 year battle with Cancer in November 2008, I can remember the smell and feel of the season as my father and I walked around the Hospice gardens during a her last days and I can sense that in the air today. Her death also marked the start of my journey with glass, the total absorbption that melting glass demands meant that the grieving process was softened and I felt supported by the mesmeric and wonderful effects of the glass. So her passing created a huge change in my life and I found a new path to travel . But other changes have followed on the heels of that as Ian and I reassessed our future at the beginning of this year.

As some of you may know we have sold our house and having lost two houses due to Grade II listed problems we have moved into a friends house in the beautiful village of Appledore, North Devon were we lived when we first met and we are renting for a while. This change means that I lost my studio and have been unable to make beads. We also decided earlier in the year that we would sell our shop Bazaar in order for me to focus on my glasswork and for Ian to go back full time to Stage Management a job he has been doing on a part time basis for the last couple of years and loves. What we hadn't bargined for is that this sale would happen so quickly and it looks as if we will be completing on the sale next Monday .

So for the first time in a long long time I will be without a home of my own and without employment!! A strange feeling indeed, Ian luckily has lots of work between now and Christmas so we will not be on the breadline! The long term plan is to, first and foremost get a studio and we have put an offer on a house here in Appledore which has that option and we are hoping to be in before Christmas. Once I am set up again and if all things work out, I will be doing some Christmas Sales from Appledore for anyone who would like to buy my beads or jewellery as Christmas pressies. I also have a couple of regular customers chomping at the bit to hold Bead Parties for the festive season so I will be doing that as soon as I am able to.

So this is the final week of Raspberry Rings being in the shop and although the stock is running low there are still beads available and I will give a 10% discount to anyone who comes in and mentions that they read this blog or saw the discount mentioned on Facebook!!

Once the beads have left Bazaar I will be focusing my time on making jewellery and going back to my Wire Wrap work which is how my journey into jewellery making and beads started. I will be posting on Facebook and blogging the results of this journey who knows I may end up with a seperate site for jewellery!! I have been asked to become a member of the West Quay Fund Raisers here in Appledore and I will be doing a Ladies Only Wine and Shop evening on the 3rd November at The Beaver Inn in Irsha Street......All Ladies welcome!

The other unfortunate thing about our new situation is a very poor internet connection and I am currently just about linked online but do not have sufficient speed to upload piccys so you are going to have do without Milly for now I will have to get to an internet Cafe to upload new pictures.

So thank you to all of you who have supported me and Raspberry Rings over the last year and I look forward to being able to get back on the torch as my head is bursting with ideas that I want to share with you all.

About Me

Hi my name is Jennie Lamb, I live and work in beautiful North Devon. My husband Ian and I live in Appledore with our bonkers Lakeland Terrier Milly.
I have a small studio which is open to the public during the summer season and by appointment out of season where you can watch me work and browse my beads.
I have always loved jewellery and glass in particular and as a child had a real addiction for paperweights, marbles and snow globes. I could spend hours escaping in my mind into the little world produced inside each and I love the texture of glass beads and marbles in your hand. That has never left me and following a lesson in lampwork with Manda Muddimer of Mango Beads in 2009 my glassy journey began.
I try and create in my beads a 3 dimensional quality that draws the viewer in and it is this and the reactive quality of glass that keeps me hooked.
I have been lucky enough to have done a few advanced workshops including classes with Astrid Reidel, Carli Di Francesco,Di East and Anouk Jaspere, Bronwen Heilman, Anita Schwegler, Jari Anne Sheese
I hope you enjoy my blog and if you need any further information on my work please do not hesitate to get in touch.